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Former DUP Leader Donaldson Arrives at Court for Sexual Offences Trial
Donaldson denies 18 charges as his wife faces a parallel trial of the facts after being ruled unfit for a conventional trial.
- On Tuesday, former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, arrived at Newry Crown Court for jury selection in his trial on alleged historical sexual offences, with prosecution opening scheduled for Wednesday.
- Donaldson's arrest and charging on 28 March 2024 triggered his resignation as DUP leader; the trial was postponed twice due to deterioration in Eleanor Donaldson's mental health before Judge Ramsey ruled her unfit for conventional trial.
- Donaldson faces 18 offences spanning 1987 to 2008—including one rape count, four counts of gross indecency with or towards a child, and 13 counts of indecent assault—while Eleanor faces five counts of aiding and abetting; both have pleaded not guilty.
- Eleanor will face a trial of the facts rather than conventional trial after Judge Ramsey ruled her unfit to stand trial on mental health grounds, with both defendants' proceedings running concurrently before the same jury for an expected three to four weeks.
- A trial of the facts cannot result in criminal conviction—the jury can only determine if the defendant committed the alleged acts—and Eleanor cannot face prison regardless of findings, while Northern Ireland Attorney General Dame Brenda King warned last month that identifying complainants is a criminal offence punishable by up to two years imprisonment.
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12 Articles
Evening Standard+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
Former DUP leader Donaldson arrives at court for sexual offences trial
The 63-year-old has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences.
·London, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left4Leaning Right1Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 40%
C 50%
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